hatchling veiled eye issue

[skippy]

i have 1 female hatchling about 4 days old that has failed to open her eyes. i am unsure what i can do besides mist and hope. i did brush her eyes with a saturated cotton swab but to no avail. is this a congenital defect or does it appear to be something treatable?

i would appreciate any help.

 

[jannb]

Poor little sweetie. What kind of lights are you using. Sometimes their eyes can be sensitive to artificial lighting. Where do you live? If your weather permits try keeping her outside in a small screen cage the majority of the day. You could also try turning her lights off for a day or two or moving them up really high away from her. Is she eating? If not you are going to have to try to get some food in her soon.

 

[skippy]

i have her under a mercury vapor bulb, i could put her outside in the afternoons when it warms up some but i haven't tried that yet as i haven't gotten home from work at a reasonable time in the last few days.

she is, unfortunately, not eating as she has yet to open her eyes once. in the hopes that the issue was humidity, i purchased a fogger and have it on a timer to deliver moisture for 1/2 hour every hour and i continue to mist as well.

 

[jannb]

MV bulbs are strong. Turn is off. Do you have a Reptisun 5.0? I recommend a used one if possible.

 

[SaintJimmy]

MV bulbs are strong. Turn is off. Do you have a Reptisun 5.0? I recommend a used one if possible.

I agree. MVB bulbs are okay for a combo of heat and uv, but it's better to have a tube uv and a heat lamp separate. It helps with eye issues because MVB are very strong

 

[skippy]

ok, light goes off. i can use the 5.0 i have for her instead. it's new but i will distance it. any other tips?

*edit* i do have a couple of paper towels between her and the majority of the light from the mv to diffuse it somewhat as it did seem too bright initially but i wanted to make sure she was warm enough, the ambient hovers around 83 in the day with the warm side being closer to 88 and it dips to 72 at night.

 

[jannb]

ok, light goes off. i can use the 5.0 i have for her instead. it's new but i will distance it. any other tips?

*edit* i do have a couple of paper towels between her and the majority of the light from the mv to diffuse it somewhat as it did seem too bright initially but i wanted to make sure she was warm enough, the ambient hovers around 83 in the day with the warm side being closer to 88 and it dips to 72 at night.

She's too hot IMO. I keep babies in the very low 80's if not 80. When I had a little veiled girl that was keeping her eyes closed I got her plenty of outside time and that seemed to really help. Here's how I keep little ones. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[skippy]

well, i moved her away from the mv bulb and the temps have dropped a little. it is now around 84 on the warm side and 81 ambient. i will attempt to get her in some natural sunlight tomorrow afternoon when i get home.

 

[skippy]

actually 79 ambient and 84 on the warm side. the gf is going to work from my house tomorrow and put her in some direct sunlight when it is available.

 

[pssh]

UVB bulbs have a "burn-in" period where the output can be kind of strong. I would turn the 5.0 light on, but not keep it over her at all for a few days. After a few days you can try putting it over her again. In the mean time, try and get her some natural sunlight and see if that helps.

 

[skippy]

Still no joy, natural light didn't perk her up any and her eyes are still closed. Force feeding may soon be required if she's to have any hope of survival. Any tips for that?

 

[camimom]

babies that size are hard to force feed. since you cant grab the chin and gently pull to get her to open.

you need to keep her in the natural sun, and do so repeatedly, might take a day ro so, she wont open right way.

try upping your humidity perhaps.

how much foliage is in her baby cage/tub?

its possible, and I hate to say this, that she just wont make it. I had 3 babies that were my runts do this,, and none made it past 1 month old.

 

[skippy]

I'm aware that she may not make it which is why the drastic option. She has had as much natural light as I can provide and the fogger and constant misting will continue but she hasn't eaten in the 7 days since she hatched.

 

[jannb]

I would get some Fluker's Repta Boost and try to get some of that in her. I would use a smaller syringe than the one that comes with it. You can also mash bugs...soft worms work best and feed her that via the small syringe. I would feed her today before she gets to weak.

 

[skippy]

That's the plan